Liko Noe: Zero Energy Building

Zero Energy Building is a building that needs very low amount of energy for heating, cooling, lighting and other consumption and this need is completely supplied from renewable energy sources. It combines the concepts of energy efficiency and renewable energy generation in order to have very low energy needs and to produce the amount of energy all zero energy buildings need by producing them on-site (or away) through renewable sources for a certain period of time. Liko Noe is a zero energy building located in Southern Moravia, near the city of Brno. It was created by Czech architect Zdenánk Fránek in partnership with scientists. It is not the first building Fránek and his studio have built with a team of scientists. However, their aim in this project was to create an innovation center for a family business that would be completely independent of the urban distribution network, based entirely on resources found in nature.

The building can be seen as an exemplary project among ecological approaches to architecture and the working environment. This approach also proves that art and science do not need to exist side by side, but that they can penetrate each other. First, at the birth of the design, there was a determination to cover the maximum amount of ecological criteria. These later became the main topic. In the building, the ecological principle does not stand out from the building in any way and is not displayed in a flashy way. As a result, ecology has become the architecture of the building.

The building consists of two main parts. The above-ground office section is constructed of load-bearing wood CLT panels, insulated with steam-open spray ICYNENE insulation and covered with a vertical living-gardens façade. The fact that the CLT panels used in the building are insulated with open-cell spray foam, which provides the building with the necessary flexibility to expand and contract, allows long-term air tightness. The underground part of the acoustic chamber is made of monolithic concrete.

The ship-shaped form of the building refers to Noah’s Ark, which was used as a model during the design process. However, it is mainly focused on the idea of harmonizing and accommodating human and nature. Large, round windows resembling ship windows allow more sunlight to penetrate the inside, minimizing the use of lighting. The façade of the building is almost completely covered by grass that directly contributes to the water supply.

The project is based on the concept of “natural thermal stabilization”. That is, the building only uses energy from natural sources such as sunlight or underground cold. The building also does not benefit from any external water source. The floor of the building is heated by the photo-thermal wall, which increases the efficiency of the heat pump. Photo-thermal walls, collection and treatment of wastewater and rainwater, natural temperature stabilization, vertical gardens and the choice of construction materials make this project truly extraordinary, both technically and aesthetically. For wastewater treatment, built wetlands are used, which repeatedly process wastewater as well as rainwater.

Ecological Advantages of Liko-Noe

• Construction of the building cost 250m2 of meadow but created 352m2 of green space producing 598.4 kg of oxygen per year (1.7 kg/m2/year).
• The area consumes 809.6 kg of carbon dioxide (2.3 kg/m2/year).
• It manages water very efficiently.
• It provides heat stabilization.
• It reduces ambient noise by 8 DB.

Sources;

Liko-Noe – Experimental Structure in Slavkov | Fránek Architects. (n.d.). Archello. Retrieved June 11, 2021, from https://archello.com/project/liko-noe-experimental-structure-in-slavkov

Liko-Noe and Franek Architects’ scientific approach | Floornature. (n.d.). Floornature.com. Retrieved June 11, 2021, from https://www.floornature.com/liko-noe-and-franek-architectsa-scientific-approach-12545/

Karakoç, N. (2019, July 24). Kendine Yeten Bir Bina. Arkitera. https://www.arkitera.com/haber/kendine-yeten-bir-bina/

Specific environmental benefits of LIKO-Noe® | Partitions and movable walls. (2017). Partitions. https://www.liko-partitions.com/en/specific-environmental-benefits-of-liko-noe-reg

Fránek architects. (n.d.). BOYSPLAYNICE Photography & Concept. Retrieved June 11, 2021, from http://www.boysplaynice.com/franek-architects-liko-noe?locale=en